But it’s happening, according to spoiler king Michael Ausiello over at TVLine:

TVLine has learned exclusively that a series currently airing on one of the Big Five broadcast networks (i.e. ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW) is killing off its star in its season finale. I’m told the death will occur toward the end of the episode, which will leave just enough time for an emotional, season-ending cemetery scene in which [redacted] bids an emotional farewell to [redacted].

As it stands now, the character will not be returning next season.

I don’t watch any network dramas anymore, save for Good Wife (which ends after this season), but that won’t stop me from speculating.

My first thought was Lucious Lyon from Empire, because no one likes Terrence Howard, but as Genevieve pointed out, Cookie is the actual star of that series. Genevieve also suggested Meredith Grey (the show could survive without her, I suspect), Analise Keating (that show could not survive without Viola Davis), or Kerry Washington (I haven’t watched in a couple of years, so I don’t know how that would work).

I don’t think Arrow would kill off its star (again), and it’s highly unlikely The Flash or Jane from Jane the Virgin or the Girlfriend (Rebecca Bloom) from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend would leave their respective series.

It’s possible that Jamie Alexander’s Jane Doe dies from tattoo ink poisoning on Blindspot. Maybe one of the regulars on Criminal Minds or Law & Order: SVU leave, but those are ensembles and unlikely to elicit much response. Meanwhile, The Vampire Diaries has already killed off its lead, so the two brothers are just incest boning now.

My guess? Red Reddington on The Blacklist. James Spader has slummed it in a mediocre network drama long enough.

NBC will valiantly attempt to continue on without him, but it will peter out to a sad, disappointing conclusion that no one will see, because the only reason anyone watches is Spader.